History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter,
Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers & Co., 1890

CHAPTER XVII

OSWAYO TOWNSHIP

GEOLOGIC FORMATION- POPULATION AND TAXABLES- THE FIRST
SETTLER- PRIVATIONS OF THE EARLY RESIDENTS- STORES AND SCHOOLS-
FIRST
RELIGIOUS SERVICES- CHURCHES- SOCIETIES- ANTE- TANNERY DAYS-
ELEVEN MILE
AND OSWAYO- THE TANNING INTEREST, ETC.- ELECTIONS IN FEBRUARY, 1890.

OSWAYO TOWNSHIP, called Chester in 1828, bounded north by the New York State
line, in its geological conformation, is half Chemung and half Catskill. Eleven
Mile creek runs southwest along the margin of the Chemung country, while the
head forks of the Oswayo belong to the southeast corner, flowing through the
Pocono and Catskill hills. Near Oswayo village are the interesting boulders from
the adjoining hills or some unknown region. Tributaries of the Eleven mile and
New York streams heading here, afford advantages in addition to those otherwise
given to the northern half of Oswayo.

The population of the township and villages in 1880 was 883. In 1888 there
were 169 Republican, sixty- seven Democratic, seven Prohibition and eleven Union
Labor votes cast, representing 1,270 inhabitants. The number of tax- payers in
1889 was 306, and assessed value, $77,226. The population of Oswayo village in
1880 was 321, while now it is estimated at about 500. The resident tax- payers
in 1834- 35 were Geo. R. and Wm. Barber, Sheldon Bradley (died after the war),
Noah Crittenden (died fifteen years ago), Chauncey (died in Wisconsin) and
Thomas (died here) Kenyon, R. Nelson (assessor, died in Allegheny township),
Thomas Peabody, Matthew Standish, Wm. Shattuck (now living in Hebron), Osias
Parks, Laughton Wilcox (died in Hebron township) and John Wells (died in March,
1869). Twenty years later we find here Dexter, Landee & Chace (saw- mill
owners, where is now the tannery), Wm. Dalrymple (steam saw- mill burned in
1888, and new one built by son), B.D. Dolbee's, C.C. Kenyon's, Thomas Kenyon's,
L.P. Relt's (steam), S.P. Lyman's (steam), John Wells' and Wm. L. Shattuck's
saw- mills. Noah Crittenden's mill was erected in 1845, and G.W. Tyler's
grist- mill in 1855. The latter is still in existence southeast of the village.

Thomas Peabody, one of the two first settlers (Wm. Shattuck being the other),
was compelled to go six miles, to Allen's house in Clara township, for fire to
light his own hearthstone. On returning he gave the cinders to his children to
build the fire; then went to hunt up the cows, and on returning found that the
fine "went out;" starting on his second trip to Allen's, he
"got there," and procuring some kindling marched back, this time
insuring success by setting on fire many pieces of dry wood on his trail. This
Thomas Peabody was the first settler of the village, in 1829, as well as of the
township. His log- house on the south side of the creek, in the village, fell to
decay in the "forties;" the homes of W.W. Crittenden and Mrs. Richmond
stand on or near the site. John Wells came in the latter part of 1829 or early
in 1830, and purchased a log- house from one of the Barbers. He resided there
until 1868, in a frame house which. he built immediately after settlement.
Before he established his ashery, he had to make the terrible journey to Jersey
Shore.

On another occasion he and his son, Walter, went on horseback, each taking a
bushel and one- half of wheat to mill at Beanville, but found the mill machinery
broken. During the night a heavy snow-storm set in, but undaunted they proceeded
to Wellsville, where they failed to have the grist ground, and proceeding to
Scio the same day they were successful, and after three days of severe travel
returned to their home. In 1834 Sheldon Bradley had a hotel here. George Jones,
who came with his parents in the " forties," is said to have killed
the largest bear known in this section, in 1855. He heard the bear taking his
preliminary winter snore, and killed him.

A log school- house occupied the site of William McDougall's store at
Oswayo, about 1840, but was removed before 1849- perhaps in 1847- to make
way for this store- building- the first mercantile house at Oswayo. John
Wells, who settled a half- mile above the village, had a potash factory, and the
product of this ashery he would haul to Rochester to exchange for groceries. The
groceries he would haul to his home, and there sell to the people. Mr. Walter
Wells has two of the kettles, one of which is used in the sugar- bush and one on
the farm. C.H. Simmons opened a store after McDougall; then C.H. Simmons and
Walter Wells; next Kenyon, Graves and Wilkinson, about 1858, and during the war
Joel Haskins established the grocery now carried on by L.M. Smith. S.R. Minor
was postmaster in 1852, followed by C.H. Simmons in 1857. Dr. H.H. Munson was
appointed in 1864; Walter Wells, in 1868; Amasa Carmer, in 1885, and Walter
Wells, in 1889. Prior to 1854 a frame school- building near the old Wells
homestead, on the southwest corner of the Thomas Kenyon farm, took the place of
a small frame building which is now part of the Kenyon home. A fourth school-
house (frame) was erected in the fall of 1861, on the side- hill above the
village, on Eleven Mile road, which is now a dwelling house, the property of
Walter Wells, occupied by the blacksmith, Charles Dezeuter. The Oswayo graded
school building was erected in 1866, by the district. This building was opened
by Reil Cobb, and continued by J.C. Wilkinson. The building was burned in
February, 1876. The common school was also presided over by the lady to whom Mr.
Cobb was subsequently married. During Mr. Wilkinson's term he had no aid. In
1876 the present school building was erected, and opened by J.C. Wilkinson that
winter. A. Howe and wife, Ernest Wells and Miss Myrtle Wells have also presided
here, while Mr. Wilkinson taught for eight terms.

Walter Wells, in his reminiscences of Oswayo, is inclined to think that the
Seventh Day Baptists were the first regular preachers; Hiram Burdick, W.J.
Gillette and others were among the preachers. The Baptists organized a building
society in 1877, and had the frame of a church- house complete, when, for want.
of funds, the building was abandoned. The frame was remodeled by Reynolds Bros.,
and now forms part of the building occupied by Hiram Cheeseboro. Rev. Mr. Hart
was the preacher at this time. Prior to 1834 a Mr. Avery preached Baptist
doctrine here. The Methodist class dates back many years. The land, on which the
Methodist Church of Oswayo was built, was leased May 23, 1859, by Noah
Crittenden to the trustees, H.H. Lyman, Joel Haskins, C.H. Simmons, Samuel
Everett, J.C. Wilkinson and Franklin Gale, and the building commenced that year.
The Catholic congregation proposes to erect a large church during the year 1890.
The members now worship in one or other of their residences.

In 1851 a Good Templars lodge was established at Oswayo. Among the members
were A.B. Wood, C.H. Simmons, Mrs. L.D. Estes, Mrs. Woods and others. This lodge
is said to have been in active existence when the Prohibitory special act was
passed. Since that date two or three other lodges of the same character have
been organized. In recent years the W.C.T.U. was established in this section,
and Mrs. Sarah M. Wells is president of the county association.

The village of ante- tannery days comprised C.A. Pinneo's steam saw- mill,
G.W. Tyler's saw and shingle mills, W. Dexter's shingle mill, the Oswayo
Hotel, the general stores of S. Beebe, W. Wells and W. McDougall; the grocery
store of J. Haskins; the offices of Dr. W.H. Turner and Attorney W.G. Graves;
the wagon shops of W. Colgrove, H. Snath, W.G. Graves, W.M. Wilber, and the
dwellings of the persons named with those of A. Moore, Mrs. West, L. Shaw, H.
York; N. Crittenden, Mrs. Thadkee, H. Lord, J.C. Wilkinson, Dr. N.H. Munoop, E.
Head and D. Moyer. The Methodist church at the west end, and the school- house
at the north end. The village has advanced considerably since that time, the
McGonigal House has been established and dwelling after dwelling erected. Walter
Wells and J.J. Lapham & Co. are general merchants; John F. Morse, hardware
dealer; C.J. Tubbs, furniture dealer; L.M. Smith and A.W. Carmer, grocers. The
Lee House is conducted by S.E. Crittenden.

The Oswayo Tannery was established twelve years ago by Sorenberg & Gray,
receiving from about thirty persons in the village about $3,000 bonus. In 1879
they sold their interests to P.H. Costello & Co., and on the removal of the
new proprietors to Costello, they sold to Lapham & Co., the present owners.
The land for a site was donated by Thomas Crittenden. The tannery gives direct
employment to fifty men, exclusive of teamsters employed in hauling raw and
manufactured material to and from Ceres. There are between 7,000 and 8,000 cords
of bark used annually, and the capacity is said to be 2,500,000 sides of
leather. In 1879 the employee's homes were built by P.H. Costello & Co.,
and now belong to the present owners. Eleven Mile post- office was established
in March, 1857, at Stephen Potter's toll- gate on the plank road, with Potter
as master. The office is now near Oswayo, with A. Butterfield, master. Eleven
Mile Cemetery Association was organized in June, 1888, with twenty- five
members, of whom G.F. Rowlee, Dean Healy and O.M. Kemp, were trustees. Chrystal,
the site of the Dalrymple mills (burned in 1888), was established as a post-
office with J.J. Rathbun, postmaster.